Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose was one of the prominent leaders of the Indian freedom struggle. His bravery, indomitable will and deep commitment to freedom established him as one of the strongest agitators against British rule. This report will discuss the early days of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s life, his political rise and his role in the Indian freedom movement through the establishment of the Azad Hind Fauz.

Early life and education

Subhash Chandra Bose was born on 23 January 1897 in Cuttack (present-day Odisha, India) to a wealthy Bengali family. His father Jankinath Bose was a successful lawyer. He started his studies from Presidency College and later studied at Cambridge University. Although he passed the ICS (Indian Civil Service) examination in 1920, he was unable to serve under British rule and chose the path of freedom struggle.

The Indian National Army (Indian National Army) was originally formed by the nationalist leader Rasbihari Bose, in 1943 Rasbihari Bose handed over the responsibility of this army to Subhash Chandra Bose. It had about 85,000 (eighty-five thousand) soldiers, including a separate women’s force (Rani Laxmibai Combat). The authority of this force was vested in the provincial government, named “Provincial Government of Free India” (Arji Hukumat-e-Azad Hind). This government had its own currency, courts and laws. 9 Axis powers recognize this government. INA troops aided the Japanese in the battles of Arakan and Meiktila.

Subhash Chandra Bose hoped that a large number of soldiers disaffected from the Indian Army would join the INA after hearing the news of the INA’s attacks on the British. But this does not happen widely. Conversely, as the war situation worsened, Japan began withdrawing its troops from the INA. At the same time the money supply from Japan decreased. Finally, the INA surrendered with the surrender of Japan.

In 1934, Subhash Chandra fell seriously ill while imprisoned in Mandalay, Burma (now Myanmar). The British government agreed to release him on the condition that he would be released if he crossed somewhere abroad without touching any Indian territory. Subhash Chandra decided to go to Europe and reached Vienna. During two years of treatment, he decided to retire and write two books, his autobiography ‘Indian Pilgrim’ and ‘India’s Struggle for Freedom’. At that time he was assisted in typing his manuscript by an Austrian woman, Emilie Schenkel, who later became his secretary. Emilie Schenkel never visited India, but she was always in touch and on good terms with the extended Bose family and associates of Netaji. He passed away in 1996 AD.

Beginning of political life

Subhash Chandra Bose joined the Congress and was quickly influenced by Gandhiji. Although he respected Gandhiji’s principles of non-violent movement, he advocated a more active and aggressive approach to freedom. In the 1930s, he along with other leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru in the Congress started promoting socialist ideas.

Congress presidents and differences

In 1938, Subhash Chandra Bose was elected Congress president. But it was during his Congress presidency that his differences with Mahatma Gandhi came to the fore. He believed that armed movement was the only way out against the British rule. As a result, he created a major divide within Congress between progressives and conservatives.

In 1939, he was re-elected as Congress president, winning against a candidate supported by Gandhiji. However, party policy differences grew so much that he was forced to resign.

Subhash Chandra Bose was featured on postage stamps of India in 1964, 1993, 1997, 2001, 2016 and 2018. He was also featured on the Indian ₹2 coin in 1996 and 1997. He was also featured on the 2018 ₹75 coin and 2021 ₹125 coin. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island (Rose Island) and some Indian institutions are named after him. was named after On 23 August 2007, the Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe visited the Subhash Chandra Bose Memorial in Kolkata. Abe told the Bose family, “The Japanese were deeply inspired by Bose’s strong will to lead the Indian independence movement under British rule. Netaji is a very revered name in Japan.

The Government of India announced on 23 January 2021, to commemorate the birth anniversary of Subhash Chandra Bose’s Netaji Jayanti. Political parties, Left Front and Left Front demanded that the day should be observed as Patriot Day.

Forward Bloc and Azad Hind Fauz

After resigning from Congress, Subhash Chandra formed a new party called Forward Bloc. He adopted new tactics to continue the fight against the British and established contacts with leaders of various countries during World War II. In 1941, he secretly left India for Germany and later Japan. While living in Japan, he founded the Azad Hind Fauz (Indian National Army or INA).

Rabindranath Tagore called Subhas Chandra ‘Deshanayak’ and dedicated the dance drama Taser Desh to him. In the dedication letter, he wrote: “Remembering that you have taken a vow to breathe new life into the heart of the country, I dedicate the play ‘Taser Desh’ to your name. Although the campaign of Azad Hind Fauj ended in failure, Subhash Chandra’s bravery and uncompromising military policy made him popular throughout India. Netaji’s birthday is now celebrated as a national holiday in West Bengal, Assam and Odisha. After independence, Kolkata’s only indoor stadium is named after him. Netaji Subhash Chandra Airport is named after him Bose International Airport was named after him. Netaji Subhash University and Netaji Subhash Institute of Technology were established in Delhi. Two stations of Kolkata Metro are now named after Netaji: ‘Netaji Bhavan’ (formerly called ‘Bhavanipur’). (former name Kundghat).

The struggle of Azad Hind Fauj

The main aim of Azad Hind Fauz was to free India from British rule. Under the leadership of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, the INA took part in several military campaigns and clashed with the British Indian Army. Although the results of Azad Hind Fauz’s military campaign did not go as expected and the INA collapsed after the defeat of Japan and Germany towards the end of the war, its symbolic importance was immense.

Death and Succession

On August 18, 1945, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose is said to have died in a plane crash. However, there is still much controversy and mystery surrounding his death. His self-sacrifice and indomitable will for freedom became a source of inspiration among Indians.